Reading

Reading's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in ethnicity, housing tenure and religion.

The population reached nearly 160,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Reading increased by 8.8%, from about 143,000 to 156,000.

The addition of just under 13,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Reading was home to, on average, 28 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Reading

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Reading increased by one year, from 32 to 33 years.

This area had a lower average age than the South East and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 3,900 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 70 and 79 years decreased by just over 300.

About 14% of people in Reading are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Reading by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Reading

The number of people in Reading from the White ethnic groups remained close to 120,000 between the last two censuses. This represents a change from 87% to 75% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Reading from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 8,500 in 2001 to about 21,000 in 2011 (from 5.9% to 14%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from just over 5,900 to about 10,000 (from 4.1% to 6.7%).

Just under 6,200 people (2.4%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from about 3,400 in 2001 (4.0%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Reading decreased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Reading by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in home ownership

The percentage of Reading households that owned their home decreased from 66% to 55% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in four (26%) households rented privately, compared with 15% in 2001. The percentage of Reading households that rented through social housing schemes remained close to 16%.

The proportion of households that owned their home fell faster here than the figure for the whole of the South East (from 73% in 2001 to 67% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 68% to 63%.

The rate of home ownership in Reading decreased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of households in Reading, the South East and England that owned their home, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Reading

The number of people in Reading that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 31,000 in 2001 to about 46,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 22% to 30% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Reading that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 90,000 in 2001 to just under 78,000 in 2011 (from 63% to 50%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just over 12,000 to about 11,000 (from 8.7% to 7.3%).

Just over 11,000 people (4.0%) said they were Muslim, up from just over 5,700 in 2001 (7.1%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Reading increased by 7.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Reading by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

Reading saw the South East's second-largest rise in the proportion of unemployed people.

In 2011, just under 1 in 20 (4.6%) people aged 16 to 74 in Reading said they were unemployed, compared with 2.5% in 2001. The percentage that were employed decreased from 58% to 56%.

Across the region, only Crawley saw a greater rise in the proportion of unemployed people (from 2.3% to 4.5%).

Every local authority area across the South East saw a rise in the proportion of unemployed people, as the regional average grew from 2.3% to 3.5%.

The rate of unemployment in Reading increased by 2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Reading, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

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